Dubai Municipality launches Youth Council

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, has recently inaugurated the Municipality Youth Council.

The move is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It emphasises the need to listen to the voice of young people, learn their ideas, suggestions and future aspirations, enhance their skills and knowledge, and employ them correctly.

"This initiative of establishing the Municipality Youth Council will enable young people to participate in the activities of building the future and achieve the development that Dubai Municipality seeks in its strategic vision to build a happy and sustainable city," Lootah said.

"The Municipality Youth Council will serve as a dialogue platform aimed at giving young people the opportunity to express their opinions and aspirations and to participate collectively in everything. Their ideas and suggestions will provide Dubai Municipality with unique initiatives to achieve its vision and ambitious plans," said Abdulla Mohammed Khalfan, Director of the Legal Affairs Department and Head of the National Service Team in the Municipality.

"The Council represents a pioneering and important step in optimising investment in young people. In Dubai Municipality, we consider youth to be the cornerstone of society building and work to channelise their energies towards a bright future. They are the driving force for building the future and participating in sustainable development in all areas related to the work of Dubai Municipality," he added.

Khalfan said the Council will act as a representative arm of the youth in the municipality. The aim is to activate the role of young people, listen to their voices, and harness their talents in the service of the municipality, the UAE Vision 2021 and the National Youth Agenda. This will be made possible by implementing programmes, policies and plans, and empowering and involving the youth to realise their potential and take on leading roles in decision-making, learning and growth, commensurate with global developments.

Speaking about the selection mechanism, he said that nominations will be accepted after a personal interview by the National Service team. The names of the proposed members will then be submitted to the senior leadership for approval. The Council will include an equal number of male and female members between the ages of 18 and 30.

Khalfan said that municipality will spare no efforts in providing all the necessary means and harnessing the maximum potential for optimal investment in the youth. They will be supported and encouraged to launch ideas and opinions in the right direction to serve the leading role the municipality seeks to achieve at the global level.